Help!!!!!

A.K.A. Pausing for Reflection and Clarity on Thursday

Things are all a jumble in Teeny Tiny Tabby Town.  For the first time in forever every single resident is healthy and just where they are supposed to be physically, but....

We're having some behavior problems.

Readers have long been entertained with Norman's food exploits.  After all, our little old man provides a bit of funny with getting stuck breadstick bags and making off with the family roast.  But his food issues are starting to get serious.  I wouldn't necessarily call him aggressive (yet) but he is, without a doubt, absolutely obsessed.

Norman is not sick.  His recent blood work says that everything is working normally.  His behavior from the beginning has always told me that our boy starved at some point in his life and was responsible for his own survival.  I had hoped that he would relax a bit as time went by and he would realize that he would never go hungry here.  Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Thieving raids are frequent.  I feel defensive in the kitchen, needing to guard or hide every single thing that is remotely edible.  Norman does not relax, so I cannot either.  When he steals something, he runs off and hides while devouring his spoils with gluttony.  He makes himself sick, vomiting if he eats too quickly (which he always does in these circumstances).  If we close him in another room while we cook or eat, he is beside himself... howling non-stop until we let him out.  If we try to have a snack away from the table, we expect to engage in hand-to-paw combat with him.  He is relentless.

Norm is not starving.  He has a bit of old man boniness, but overall he's in much better shape than when we brought him home in January.  This isn't a normal and casual  "Hey... What are you eating?  Can I have some?"  This is "I want that.  GIVE IT TO ME NOW!!!!"  I'm at my wit's end and could use some practical advice on how to deal with a bad-mannered and potentially dangerously obsessed cat.

I should add that this behavior is escalating.  While he's always been over-interested in what we're eating, it's just over the past couple months that he's reached the level of "serious pest" and only in the past couple weeks that I feel like this is becoming something critically important.  

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And Issue #2...

She looks very sweet, she acts very sweet, but...

Our Mother Jefferson is having issues playing nicely outside the foster room.  Inside the front room, she is happy... always purring, looking for affection, snuggling non-stop and never raising a paw in anger (never seen it, even with pushy kittens).  Outside the foster room, she started off beautifully.  Walking up to Charlie and rubbing on his legs.  Walking up to Norman to bump noses and say hello.  Walking up to Simba and expecting to sit down next to him and relax.

Something changed inside Mother Jefferson once her babies were allowed out of the foster room for extended periods of time.  When given the chance, she now charges outside the room looking for danger.  She chases down the other cats, going on the attack and cornering them in a rage.  She puffs up, screams at Simba and Norman, scratches them, and continues to do so until she is dragged off and locked back in the foster room.  I understand the difference... the presence of her babies.  But the only thing I know to do about it is not let her out of the room any longer.  She begs non-stop to come out, but I won't put my cats in danger.

With it only happening twice, my cats are acting differently.  Simba hides upstairs and I have to coax him down.  He isn't sleeping with me on cold nights, which is completely against his norm.  And speaking of a norm, Norman marked his territory last night... my bed.  Sigh.

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And...

In the middle of all of this, our human family is going through upheaval.  My husband, a United States military officer, has received a short-notice transfer to Washington DC.  It's only for a year, so the kids and I are not moving.  But he is (and pretty much right now).  Two-thirds of the kids are taking it well.  The third might drive me to drink.  It just doesn't seem like the right time to make any more changes to our family.  Which means...

 

Someone's Petfinder profile might be going public this weekend.

I'm not making any definite pronouncements, just a warning that I might have to let him go to a calmer environment.  I love every foster that comes through my door as if they are my own and can honestly say that I don't love Clay any more than the rest of them.  It's just always been a different kind of relationship.  As he gets older and more independent, he is not as attached to me as he was a couple weeks ago.  And I can see myself letting him go.  But... notice that I said "might".  I'm just not sure right now (and anytime you're not sure, it's probably safer to err on the side of "no".  Let's face it, there's always another kitten who will need me.  I may or may not be receiving texts on that subject right now.)  

No decisions have been made, other than Baby Jeffersons will be going to adoption hours on Saturday (and I imagine not all of them will be coming home).  I have been asked to be on hand to evaluate adoption applications and hand-pick our babies' new families.  I just hope I feel more settled by then.  

Oh, and did I mention that the kid who would drive me to drink is lobbying to keep yet another one of the Jeffersons?  (And I'd totally keep that one too.  There's something about every single foster that makes me love them in a special way and think that I want to keep them.  But if I kept them all, I'd have no room or time for the next ones who need me even more.)

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In the middle of all this, cuteness abounds.  I love my kitties (permanent and foster) and will continue to work through all of these issues to make a better life for all of us.  If you have any advice for how to handle any of these situations, I would love to hear it in the comment section.

I will be taking lots of pictures for an astronomically huge Friday edition to make up for my whining today.  Have a great day everyone!

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And "Holy Crap! I Can't Believe I Forgot to Tell You This!!!!!"

Itty, bitty Adams sister Chevelle?  The one who snagged herself a home without ever going on Petfinder?  Well, there's a reason for that.  She was adopted within the family.  Paula's sister (who has an established thing for calicos) couldn't wait to take this sweetheart home with her.

You know what that means, don't you?  Someone we know is a big sister now...

Penelope Jean the Calico Queen has itty bitty Chevelle to push around now ;-)

(I'm not saying she would ever do that.  I just know how the sister thing works in my house.)